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‘Freaky Tales’ Review: Magnetic Performances Temper Uneven Oakland Anthology – Sundance Film Festival


Oakland’s freaky side emerges in Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck’s ambitious yet tonally uneven new anthology film Freaky Tales. Inspired by Too $hort’s hit Freaky Tales, the directors spotlight di…

Though inspired by Too $hort’s legendary hip hop anthem “Freaky Tales,” the film ventures beyond music to shine a light on diverse communities coexisting in the city. The vignettes spotlight rebellious punks, aspiring rappers, a conflicted henchman, and basketball legend Eric “Sleepy” Floyd, linked by unfolding events and an otherworldly emerald glow electrifying Oakland in May 1987. Set in 1987, the directors aim to channel Oakland’s legacy as the birthplace of the Black Panthers into an eclectic mix of stories centered fighting back against oppressors, whether Nazis, cops, or one’s own limitations.

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